SeaSlugs
Well-known member
agreed, GM at least in the trucks doesnt like change - hasnt really changed alot in them for 50+ years...
i hate those cars with the wiper control on the right side that looks like a gear shift should be there.
Stop light and tail light problem
- Thread starter Johns30
- Start date
agreed, GM at least in the trucks doesnt like change - hasnt really changed alot in them for 50+ years...
i hate those cars with the wiper control on the right side that looks like a gear shift should be there.
Johns30
Member
Bringing this old thread back to life just for an UPDATE on my problem in case anyone in the future uses this thread in a search:
I had already fixed the bad ground last summer but since then have just kept my lights on while driving so that my brake lights would also work. (The problem was my brake lights wouldn't work unless headlights were also turned on.)
I finally got around to taking my light switch housing apart to see what the wiring looks like. I found that the wire for the brake lights was 1)really loose almost falling off the terminal and 2) I believe it was actually connected to the wrong terminal. I crimped it a bit and put it securely on the correct terminal per diagram and now everything seems to work as it should.
It sure is a nice feeling to get something figured out/ fixed (even if it takes almost a year LOL
but that's the way it goes sometimes with job and kids and house and, and, and...)
I had already fixed the bad ground last summer but since then have just kept my lights on while driving so that my brake lights would also work. (The problem was my brake lights wouldn't work unless headlights were also turned on.)
I finally got around to taking my light switch housing apart to see what the wiring looks like. I found that the wire for the brake lights was 1)really loose almost falling off the terminal and 2) I believe it was actually connected to the wrong terminal. I crimped it a bit and put it securely on the correct terminal per diagram and now everything seems to work as it should.
It sure is a nice feeling to get something figured out/ fixed (even if it takes almost a year LOL
but that's the way it goes sometimes with job and kids and house and, and, and...)
Patrick L.
Well-known member
Yep, glad you found it. With these simple old cars its usually something pretty simple.
FRANK PKNY
Well-known member
You need to start here,
1 you should have power to the tail light switch all the time, if not the problem can be isolated prior to the switch, if yes, go to the tail light on the drivers side and unplug the connectors up under the rear where the junctions are. Mark them so when you go back together you get them correct. Take a long wire jumper and go from the negative pole on the battery to one of the pig tails on the light connect it, Assuming you have a positive ground). You should get one of the two bulbs in that light to fire up. Then do the same on the second pigtail, you should get that one to fire up. If not try making a temporary ground wire go from one of the screws that hold the bezzle on wrap a wire on the screw and go to the frame with an alligator clip to the frame wiggle it around so you get a good connection. If then the light comes on when you have your jumper wire to the battery on one of the pigtails your problem is the ground. Do the same on the other side. by doing it this way you can isolate the problem. I have found that the connectors sometimes get corroded they plug into a female on all the wires there is a male end on the wire and a female connector, I clean them up well or replace the female end (I keep a stock of them) and clean the male end then that gives you a better connection. I put dielectric grease on all the plugs female inside them that keeps from getting water into them and causing corrosion. Hope I made this easy enough. It's just common sense. Report back so we can know if we helped you! Frank PKNY
1 you should have power to the tail light switch all the time, if not the problem can be isolated prior to the switch, if yes, go to the tail light on the drivers side and unplug the connectors up under the rear where the junctions are. Mark them so when you go back together you get them correct. Take a long wire jumper and go from the negative pole on the battery to one of the pig tails on the light connect it, Assuming you have a positive ground). You should get one of the two bulbs in that light to fire up. Then do the same on the second pigtail, you should get that one to fire up. If not try making a temporary ground wire go from one of the screws that hold the bezzle on wrap a wire on the screw and go to the frame with an alligator clip to the frame wiggle it around so you get a good connection. If then the light comes on when you have your jumper wire to the battery on one of the pigtails your problem is the ground. Do the same on the other side. by doing it this way you can isolate the problem. I have found that the connectors sometimes get corroded they plug into a female on all the wires there is a male end on the wire and a female connector, I clean them up well or replace the female end (I keep a stock of them) and clean the male end then that gives you a better connection. I put dielectric grease on all the plugs female inside them that keeps from getting water into them and causing corrosion. Hope I made this easy enough. It's just common sense. Report back so we can know if we helped you! Frank PKNY